Abstract
Shock due to medication, hemorrhage and perforation are well-known complications of colonoscopy. However, other complications have not been analyzed fully. We therefore performed a systemic review of the English literature. Using the Medline database, papers pertaining to rare complications of colonoscopy published between 1990 and 2009 were collected. From these papers, we extracted the following data : the first author, year of publication, patient age, sex, diagnosis of complication, diagnostic and treatment method, prognosis, and so on. Rare complications reported were retroperitoneal hemorrhage, ischemic colitis, pneumothorax, pneumoscrotum, ileus, incarceration of the endoscope in an inguinal hernia, appendicitis, sepsis, and so on. There were cases in which patients died, complicated with ischemic colitis, appendicitis, sepsis, and so on. Because there are complications that need prompt treatment such as tension pneumothorax, all endoscopists should have knowledge of these complications.
